A History of the African-American People (Proposed) by Strom Thurmond Read Online Free Page B

value notwithstanding, I would be remiss not to mention the marketing opportunities screaming from the bowels of this project. For example, the promotion of a Strom doll (tasteful), a dream I have long held to and a design of which I have prepared. You should hear what it says when I pull the string.
    p.p.s. I will need a number of copies, gratis as you say: I expect friends to form round me as a result of this work. Providing them with a copy, signed and free, would be graceful.

    S IMON & S CHUSTER , I NC .
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
    July 29, 2002
    Mr. Barton Wilkes, Esq.
    Advisor
    The Hon. Strom Thurmond
    Dear Mr. Wilkes:
    Just as you say.
    Here is a revised contract. You will see that it covers the issues you raise.
    As for the team you wish to assemble: of course we have no objection to this, and I would think the Senator would be the one best situated to name those he would most like to work with and proceed to employ them. Are you seeking advice from us as to writers and scholars?
    I assume that you do indeed wish us to provide names. To save time, I am glad to do so right here and now. Here’s what we think: you need to latch onto a first-rate African-American writer, historian, or scholar. Then ask him/her with whom she/he would like to work. Perhaps one person would suffice, though it’s hard to find all that in one—a writer, scholar, and a black.
    Let’s take the last term first, a black. How can I put this without offending you? Perhaps I cannot, so I’ll just blurt it out. Not too many eminent or even competent blacks will leap to the chance to work with Senator Thurmond on this project. As you know, those few blacks who are, like the Senator, Republicans are, not to mince words, craven, pathological, or more or less thoroughgoing nincompoops. That causes a problem.
    There are, however, a few black writers who seem impervious to politics of any kind, may be more or less unaware of political energies, as I might put it. But even these will know and have some views on Senator Thurmond. No need to go into details here. But you see the difficulty. After several meetings with our full staff and the help of my advisor, whom you know, we could come up with but one name that would seem likely for your purposes—Percival Everett. He has what you want: he is experienced, virtually unknown, and black. What’s more, we think he’ll do it. He’s at a University too, so he’ll be able to call on scholarly help.
    Tell us what you think and also what sort of advance you had in mind. Do you want us to approach Mr. Everett? If you do, please let us know the terms Senator Thurmond intends to propose to him for such assistance.
    Sincerely,
Martin

    SIMON & SCHUSTER, PUBLISHERS
    P UBLISHING A GREEMENT
    Recitals
    This publishing Agreement (“the Agreement”) is entered into as of May 30, 2001 (“the Effective date”) by and between Simon & Schuster, Publishers, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020 and Strom Thurmond, an individual, Russell Senate Office Building, Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C., concerning a work presently titled A History of the African American People and not described as yet to be either a factual accounting, social commentary or fictional reenactment of some era, portion of time or reflection of attitudes about or concerning people of African descent on the continent of North America.
    1. Grant of Rights
    Author, on behalf of himself and his heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, exclusively grants, assigns and otherwise transfers to the Publisher and its licensees, successors and assigns, all right, title and interest in and to the Work, throughout the world, in perpetuity, and in any and all media and forms of expressions now known or hereafter devised, including but not limited to all copyrights therein (and any and all extensions and renewals thereof) for the full term of such copyrights, and all secondary rights therein.
    2.